Rake



Feb. 29, 1944. I E SWANSQN 2,343,033

- 'l RAKE Filed May 25, 1945 Patented F eb. 29, 1944 UNITED STATESPATENTl oFFicE Elsie Swanson, Seattle, Wash.

Application May 25, 1943, Serial No. 488,447

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved lawn and garden rake of the typeembodying a hinged rake head normally yieldingly held in a forwardlyswung operative position substantially at right angles to the rakehandle but free to swing rearwardly upon forward movement of the rake soas to automatically cleanfleaves and trash from the teeth of the rakehead when used to rake a lawn or the like.

The primary object of the present inventionis to provide an eicient rakeof the above type. and

one which is extremely simple. and durable in construction, economicalto manufacture, and otherwise well adaptedf'or successful commercialuse.

'I'he present invention also contemplates the provision of novel andeflicient means to secure the rake head in its forwardly swung operativeposition and against rearward swinging movement for use as an ordinaryrigid rake when cleaning of the teeth is not necessary, such as whenusing the rake for gardening plllpOses.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consistsin the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter morefully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a rake constructed in accordance withthepresent invention, the handle ofthe rake being broken away.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the rake shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical on line 3 3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1. y

Referring in detail to the drawing, the Present rake includes a handle 5ilxed in the socket inember `S of a holder having a lwide bifurcatedforward portion 6 whose legs form transversely alined spaced bearings 1.

'Ihe rake further includes a rake head comsection taken prising acylindrical cross-bar 8 provided with spaced depending rake teeth 9 androtatably tted in the bearings l. The rake head is thus hinged forswinging movement about a horizontal axis in the legs of the holder.

Rigid with and rising from the cross-bar 8 between the bearings-1 is anear 9,.through which loosely extends the forward end of a rod I0slidably and rotatably mounted in a housing II fixed upon the wideforward portion 6 of the holder.

The outer end of the rod I0 has a head is yieldingly urged rearwardly bya compression spring I3 encircling the same within the hous- 'swing therake head to a position wherein the teeth 9 are disposed at right anglesto the handle l 5, the forward swinging movement of the rake head beinglimited by engagement of ear 9 with the forward end of housing II. Thus,it will be seen that, upon rearward movement of the rake, the latterwill act to effectively gather leaves and trash. However, upon forwardmovement of the rake and downward pressure thereon, the yrake head willyield or swing rearwardly, as shown by dotted lines in Figures 1 and 3,so that any leaves or trash caught in the teeth 9 will be eiectivelystripped therefrom.

When vthe rake is used for gardening or like purposes, there will be noneed of permitting the rake head to yield for cleaning the teeththereof. I accordingly provide means to releasably secure' the rake headin its normal forwardly swung or operative position. This means consistsin pro-A viding the inner end of rod I0 witha lateral handle I5 whichmaybe swung to rotate rod I 0 so that it assumes a-position abutting theinner end of. the housing II and out of alinement with the slot I6 o'fthe latter a-s shown in Figure 3. Also, th'ehead I2 isin the form of acam which impinges the rake head when the handle is turned to thissecuring position, thereby holding the handle in this securing position,with the head I2 drawn against ear 9' and ear 9' drawn against housing II. Thus conditioned, Athe rake'head will be en'ectively heldin itsforwardly swung position, and the rake may then be used the same as anordinary rigid rake. By rotating,V rod I0 by means of handle I5, thehead I2 may be released from the rake head and hand I5 may be brought'in alinement with slot IG so that the latter will permit handle I5 tomove forwardly and allow the rake head to yield rearwardly as beforementloned.

The holder is preferably formed of sheet metal l with itsl portion 6 atand the housing II flange@ l2 engaging the front face of ear 9', and rodI0 55 From the foregoing'description, it will be seen that I haveprovided a rake of the type described which is extremely simple anddurable in construction, eficient in use, and economical to manufacture..The rake comprises a minimum number of simple and 'durable parts, sothat it may not readily get Iout of order, and so that it is convenientto quickly release the rake head or rigidly fasten it against yielding.Minor changes in the details of construction illustrated and describedare contemplated such as fairly fall within the scope of the inventionas claimed.

What I claim as new is:

l. A rake of the character described, including a rake head consistingof a cross-bar having depending rake teeth, a handle holder having awide bifurcated forward portion whos legs form spaced transverselyalined bearings in which the cross-bar of the rake head is journaled, anear rigid with and rising from the cross-bar between said bearings, ahousing xed on the forward holder portion and having a spring-pressedrod slidably and rotatably mounted therein said rod being yieldinglyurged rearwardly and having its forward end loosely extending throughsaid ear, a head on the rod in front of said ear and a handle on therear end of said rod positionable to engage the rear end of the housingto hold the rake vhead in forwardly swung operative position, saidhousing having a slot with which the handle may be alined to allowrearward yielding of the rake head.

2. A rake ,of the character described, including a rake head consistingof a cross-bar havingA depending rake teeth, a handle holder having awide bifurcated forward portion whose legs form spaced transverselyalined bearings in which the cross-bar of the rake head is journaled, anear lrigid with and rising from the cross-bar between said bearings, ahousing ilxed on the forward holder portion and having a spring-pressedrod slidably androtatably mounted therein, said rod being yieldinglyurged rearwardly and having its forwardend loosely extending throughsaid ear, a head on the rod in front ofsaid ear and a handle on the rearend of said rod positionable to engage the rear end of the housing -tohold the rake head in forwardly swung operativeA position,

said housing having a slot with which the handle f may be alined toallow rearward yielding of the rake head said head comprising a camadapted to impinge the rake head to hold the rod against 25 turning whenthe handle is in engagement with

